5 things every stroke hero should know

I was a Paramedic for 24 years. One of the hardest calls to respond to, was those having a stroke or about to have one. It is terribly painful to see the symptoms occur, and see the frustration and confusion that often presents itself in the patient. This can happen to anyone, a family member, a co-worker, or a friend. Do you know what to do? Do you know how to react?

There are many super heroes out there. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, people who are simply lending a hand to others. We consider those people super heroes. Many of those super heroes are behind the scenes; they never get recognition for what they do, and that is okay with them.

But what if you could be a super hero that saves lives? You might be thinking – wow, that would be a big deal – right? It is much easier than you might think!

May is American Stroke Month, so we’re working with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and the Ad Council to raise awareness about Stroke knowledge, prevention, and what to do in an emergency. Stroke is the No. 1 preventable cause of disability – and 80 percent of strokes are preventable!

You don’t need superpowers to be a Stroke Hero.

You can be a Stroke Hero by controlling your blood pressure and other risk factors and by knowing F.A.S.T, the warning signs of stroke, so you’re ready to take action and help others know when and how to take action! Only 9% of us can identify all the letters in the F.A.S.T. acronym for stroke. When you recognize a stroke and immediately call 9-1-1, the person has a greater chance of getting to an appropriate hospital quickly and being assessed for treatment options like a clot-busting drug or clot-removing device.

F – Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.

A – Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S – Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like: “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

T- Time to call 9-1-1 – If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

If you know someone who could be at risk for a stroke, or even yourself – take the #StrokeHero quiz. It is fast, easy, and could save your life or the lives of people that you love.

While stroke threatens millions of lives, it is largely preventable, treatable and beatable. Together, we can end stroke. Share this with your family, friends, co-workers and community by sharing on social media. You can share this post or tweet: You don’t need superpowers to be a #StrokeHero. Live healthier and know the F.A.S.T. warning signs – StrokeAssociation.org/StrokeHero

Want to get more involved? Join the #StrokeChat hosted by @American_Stroke on 5/18 at 12pm CDT. Stroke experts will join from local AHA/ASA handles coast to coast and we’ll have an engaging conversation about superpowers, the face of stroke, what’s in the news, and give away some swag from NBA All Star Paul George and ALEX AND ANI who just debuted a new bangle honoring stroke survivors.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."